MANILA, Philippines — Triathlon Philippines has begun forming a national pool for fitness racing, a new discipline recognized by World Triathlon, to prepare athletes for upcoming international competitions, including qualifiers for the world championships in Stockholm, officials said.
Triathlon Philippines President Tom Carrasco said the initiative aligns with World Triathlon’s push to expand the sport through new formats such as hyrox, also referred to as hyathlon. He made the statement after attending the recent World Triathlon Congress.
Carrasco said the national pool will serve as the foundation for selecting athletes who will compete in qualifying events leading to the world championships.
He added that the organization is also studying the possibility of hosting a major hyathlon event in the Philippines next year, with support from the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Department of Tourism.
Hyathlon combines elements of triathlon and duathlon, featuring continuous segments of swimming and running in formats such as swim-run or run-swim-run. The event also includes alternating legs of trail running and open-water swimming, typically performed by teams of two.
Carrasco said the introduction of hyathlon could support the country’s sports tourism efforts, citing large-scale participation in similar events held in Bangkok and Singapore in 2026.
